Grinding a beautiful machined looking 5 inch long swedge in ten minutes time?

Fred.Rowe

Fred.Rowe

Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
May 2, 2004
Messages
6,848
Grinding swedges can be a frustrating affair. Getting both sides even can be a challenge.
The pic shows a swedge that took ten minutes to grind. Both sides are exactly the same.

This swedge is ground with a compound angle of 54 degrees. If you look at the top of the grind you can see the wire edge developed by the grind.

These grinds are easy to do using a Bubble Jig.

This is ground into a section of 1/4inch mild steel plate.

There were no lay out lines used on the edge or the flat, just counted the passes on the belt.


This is at 120 grit.

We should have the full video of how to do this grind ready by the middle of next week.
It will be posted here on shop talk and on the BubbleJig.com website.

Happy grinding, Fred

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stephen g said:
I see it, it looks pretty dang nice to me.
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Most any first time grinder can make a swedge look as good.

The Bubble jig sitting on the blade allows for perfect alignment.

Fred
 
Burton said:
Good one Fred. I will have to give this a go soon. -Burton
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Evening my friend,

The new table I set up on the KMG made it a breeze. The square clamps were just what was needed. I'll have to make up some out of hardened steel. The brass ones ground down pretty quick.

The edge will lay you open it is really sharp.

Fred
 
I'll pass on a great tool/technique.

Get a magnetic base digital inclinometer. The name sounds expensive, but Woodcraft and Rockler ( and others) sell it for about $30-45. You can set up any work table to be at any angle desired in seconds, square the drill bit to the table on a press, set your table saw blade at any angle,...or my favorite...place it on the blade for grinding or sharpening. You will know the angle of the edge to .1 degree.

Here is an article on one:
http://www.woodshopdemos.com/nprod-24.htm
 
bladsmth said:
I'll pass on a great tool/technique.

Get a magnetic base digital inclinometer. The name sounds expensive, but Woodcraft and Rockler ( and others) sell it for about $30-45. You can set up any work table to be at any angle desired in seconds, square the drill bit to the table on a press, set your table saw blade at any angle,...or my favorite...place it on the blade for grinding or sharpening. You will know the angle of the edge to .1 degree.

Here is an article on one:
http://www.woodshopdemos.com/nprod-24.htm
Click to expand...

Stacy,

I looked at these at one time but they didn't seem very practical; putting the blade with the inclinometer attached, into the water filled quench tank seemed it might pose a problem; How do they hold up when submerged? Are they waterproof?

On a woodworkers site someone posted, calling my little gadget, "pre wixley genius". I considered that a heart felt compliment after I googled wixley and found out what a Wixley is.

I don't have one here at the shop; what size are they and what does one of them weigh? On there site it looks to be a couple of inches across the base.

Because the Wixley reads at 90 degrees from the platen, the numbers are viewable on the side correct, does it make your neck hurt to keep your eye on the digital readout from the side, it could be hard on your ears.
The Bubble Jig is made by a knife maker for knifemakers.
Any person can use this jig "free hand" for a day and will be able to grind flat, very acceptable bevels on most any blade shape. Can the Wixley do that?
No, its not made to.

I might get one, they have many uses around the shop; great for the mill and table saw; but I don't think knife making is something they are made for. What I make is made specifically to grind blades with beautiful flat bevels.
I'll send you one to try out my friend, You can send it back or send me the money.

We take paypal or mo. Personal check, in your case?:)

Best regards, Fred:thumbup:







Fred
 
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The more I see the Bubble Jig the more I want one. Fred, if I don't win the contest, I'll be placing an order pretty soon.
 
C_Kyle said:
The more I see the Bubble Jig the more I want one. Fred, if I don't win the contest, I'll be placing an order pretty soon.
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When ever you are ready we have them in stock.
The jig is versatile, adaptable and extremely easy to learn; its simplicity itself producing beautiful flat grinds.

Good luck with the drawing, Fred:thumbup:
 
The nice thing about Fred's jig is that you lock in the degree you are grinding and have at it. With the woodworking jig listed above it tells you where you are at but you have no way of setting it to a specific degree and holding it there.
 
Fred,
:D:D:D:D

They are quite small, 1.5"sq. by 1"thick, and weigh 4 ounces.
True they read in the vertical plane,with the readout on the side, but it isn't too hard to get used to that. They are superb for squaring things up or setting tables and jigs up at exact angles. The ability to zero the unit while attached to the reference surface ( platen, saw table, drill bit , etc.) and then read the angular derivation from that surface is where it really shines. If the platen is sits at an angle ( for ease in grinding), and the Wixley is set to that reference, and angle formed by the blade or a work rest will be read directly ( not in reference to earth level.
I don't use it all the time, but when I need to check the angle of a grind or something, I check it, and then continue by eye. This is especially useful for staring a sharpening session at a different angle than normal.


I do like your bubble jig.
 
bladsmth said:
Fred,
:D:D:D:D

They are quite small, 1.5"sq. by 1"thick, and weigh 4 ounces.
True they read in the vertical plane,with the readout on the side, but it isn't too hard to get used to that. They are superb for squaring things up or setting tables and jigs up at exact angles. The ability to zero the unit while attached to the reference surface ( platen, saw table, drill bit , etc.) and then read the angular derivation from that surface is where it really shines. If the platen is sits at an angle ( for ease in grinding), and the Wixley is set to that reference, and angle formed by the blade or a work rest will be read directly ( not in reference to earth level.
I don't use it all the time, but when I need to check the angle of a grind or something, I check it, and then continue by eye. This is especially useful for staring a sharpening session at a different angle than normal.


I do like your bubble jig.
Click to expand...

Stacy,

Thats why I like ready your post; you are always insightful, honest and open minded.

Fred :)
 
I bought this bubble jig off a friend(sorry fred) and ground a swede last nigh in about 15 minutes and it was more even than I have been able to get. My grinds are flatter and even and it just kicked up my quality a notch. Thanks for the great tool Fred!
 
panch0 said:
I bought this bubble jig off a friend(sorry fred) and ground a swede last nigh in about 15 minutes and it was more even than I have been able to get. My grinds are flatter and even and it just kicked up my quality a notch. Thanks for the great tool Fred!
Click to expand...

Thanks for the feedback Panch0.

I don't care where you got one; but that you now have one is great.
:thumbup:Fred
 
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Fred, you better draw my number, lol Im starting to really want one of these.
 
frossbyte said:
Fred, you better draw my number, lol Im starting to really want one of these.
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I have one with your name on it; don't know if its the freebee or not:D
but I have one for you.;)

Regards, Fred
 
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